Jazzing up Moscow

By now, anybody with the slightest interest in jazz knows that the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival is the region’s undisputed world-class, National-Medal-of-Arts-winning jazz event.

Ella, Sarah, Dizzy, Wynton, Doc – they’ve all played this University of Idaho event during its 40-plus years (the last 23 under the Lionel Hampton moniker).

This year, the four evening concerts will also feature big names: Dr. John, Wycliffe Gordon, Regina Carter, Roy Hargrove and Hank Jones.

Yet unless you’re a music student or educator, you might not realize that the festival is hugely influential for an entirely different reason – as a massive competition and master-class symposium for student jazz musicians.

“We’re expecting just over 10,000 students and music directors from all over the U.S.,” said Morgan Wilson, the festival’s marketing coordinator.

“Boston College will be here to perform, along with schools from Canada, Seattle, all over. They’re going to be in hotel rooms, dorm rooms, church floors, gym floors – wherever we can put them.”

These students, from elementary age to college, spend their days attending workshops, master classes, seminars and competitions. Then, students from the day’s competition star in their own young-artist concerts held in the afternoon before the professionals take the stage.

And this year, the students will have an additional showcase: Hamp’s Club.

Hamp’s Club will be a side-stage at the Kibbie Dome, on which a student soloist chosen during the day’s competition will perform after the main evening concert (probably around 10:30 or 11 p.m.).

It’s the festival’s attempt to re-create the time-honored jazz tradition of young talent honing their craft in intimate, late-night clubs.

This is only one reason why Morgan says, “If you haven’t been to the festival in a while, this is the year to come back.”

Some other highlights:

A spicy New Orleans theme – The Wednesday concert is titled “New Orleans is in the House,” featuring the legendary Dr. John, aka Mac Rebennack, aka The Night Tripper, one of the leading proponents of swampy Louisiana music.

Dr. John is well-known for his hits “Right Place, Wrong Time” and “Such a Night” as well as other Creole-inflected songs. After Hurricane Katrina, he emerged as a key spokesman for New Orleans and its music.

Look for trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and saxophonist Houston Person at this concert, too.

The All-Star Rhythm Section – The combo of Jeff Hamilton on drums, Russell Malone on guitar, Robert Hurst on bass and Bill Charlap on piano will be the rhythmic backbone for most of the evening concerts.

A vibraphone vibe – Every concert will showcase the vibraphone, Hampton’s instrument, especially the Thursday show titled “Hamp – The Innovator and Showman.”

New fusion sounds – The Thursday concert will also feature Roy Hargrove’s RH Factor, which incorporates elements of rap and funk along with jazz.

Masters and Mentors Night – Friday will feature a series of veteran jazz hands paired with young up-and-comers: Dee Daniels with Sara Gazarek, Curtis Fuller with Ryan Porter, Hank Jones with Taylor Eigsti, Bobby Hutcherson with Warren Wolf, and Jon Hendricks with Sachal Vasandani.

An old-fashioned battle of the bands – Saturday night will pit the Lionel Hampton Big Band and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra in a battle of large, swinging bands.

Dancing the night away – On Saturday night, two dance floors will be set up for people to get up and move to the Big Band sounds. Every concertgoer that night will be given a “dance card” which will be their ticket to get out on the dance floor, if they wish.

The Young Artist’s Concerts – These are afternoon concerts featuring the winners from the day’s adjudicated performances. On Wednesday at 4 p.m., the elementary, junior high and middle school ensembles will perform. On Friday at 4:45 p.m., it’ll be the high school vocal ensembles. On Saturday at 4:45 p.m., it’ll be the high school instrumental ensembles.

The festival gets started with a free Community Kick-Off event, Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Palouse Mall in Moscow. A cake – shaped like the vibes – will be served to celebrate the late Lionel Hampton’s 100th birthday year. Some of the early-arriving musicians will perform.

While there, people can take a gander at not just one, but two National Arts Medals. One belonged to Lionel Hampton, awarded in 1996, and the other belongs to the festival itself, awarded by President George W. Bush in November.